Water turbine with a high specific speed



Feb. 25, 1930. R. Hol-'MANN WATER TURBINE WITH A HIGH SPECIFIC SPEED Filed Aug. 29 1921 lao Patented Feb. 25,A 1930 REINHARD HORMANN, or vRvEY, swI'TzERLANiJ, -AssIsNoR `T 'o ALLIsLCIIALMER-s 'Y MANUFACTURING COMPANY, F MILWA'KEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE l 'WATER TU-RRINEWI'IH A HIGH srECIrIC 'SPEED 'f Application medAgustaaiem, seriaiNo. 496,578, kanal in switzena'adl June a, 1915.

(GRANTED'UN'DR THE .PROVISIONS 0F THE AC'TOFV'MARGH 3, 1921, 41 SVTATfL., y1313) Applications for Letters Patent Vhave been filed in Switzerland June 2, 1915, and in Ger` many July 26, 1915. I

The object of Y theY present invention is a water-turbine of the axial-type with a specific speed Vof at least 330. The specific speed ork specific number of revolutions of a turbine runner is calculated from the formula:

nq/ Y i ns- In this formula as isthe specific number of revolutions, nis the number of revolutions per minute of the turbinerunner designedto work under a given headH and to deal ywith a given quantity of water, N is the output developed by the turbine'runner in brake. horsepowers for said head. and said quantity of waterfand His the head in meters. Y s y The hitherto knownaxialturbines .(Jon.

val-turbines) havev only Vbeen designed for lower specific speeds (below 200) andhavebeen found unserviceable for modern vplants and surpassedby theturbines of the Francis type.

' The Francis turbines withV al high specic speed dealing with relatively large quantities of water and in whichthe entra-nce ofthe water takes place in the radial directionand the discharge of the water in the axial direction v present the following disadvantages:

1. In consequence of the deviation Yofthe water k from the radial intof the axial direction cur. A 2. The great circumferential velocity; over the whole vane edge ofthenrunner causesy a high relative velocity of the water along the runner blades and thereforeconsiderable fricL tion losses. f

3. The arrangement for thesupply'of the water requires muchspacejcausesimpactlosses l and further causes turbines withhorizontal y' known turbines with a high specicspeedis' departed from in appreciating the advantages the axial flow forturbines with a high specificspeed,` whereby the afore-mentioned disadvantages are for the most part overcome. The diameter of the turbineaccording to the inventlon isV much smaller than that of the known turbines with a -high specific speed forebay which-arrangement has onlybeen possible with the hitherto known turbines with a high specific speed 'and a; radial enf trance of the water by providing a special Casf ing surrounding the turbine. v

Three constructional examples of the tur= bine, according to the invention are illustrated on the accompanying drawing in which:

f Fig. 1 is a vertical 'section through a turbine providedv withv a horizontal shaft, the turbinebeing arranged outside the forebay;

' Fig. Qshowsi'n a vertical section aturbine provided with a vertical shaft and arranged finsideY the forebay;y

Fig. 3 Yshowsfaturbine corresponding to thatshown in Fig. 1 with the exception of a slight modification. A

With all the `ex'emplificationsvshown.the V water flows from theforebay 'z' into the inlet funnel a from where it passes inj an axialdiv throughl the runneryc-andisfled Cif by the draft tubefor "suction, pipe d ,without any abrupt change `of direction' of; flow :being caused'. With ythe constructional :example ijllustratedin Fig. 1 the inletfunnel ais-ary ranged in the side wall ofthe open water basin or forebay'z' and vprojects-'beyond said r wall, so that the turbine located-withinsaid funnel is outside the forebay z'. YIn korder to attain a good .reaction ratio between 'guide v wheel andrunnerfand to avoid losses result; ing from eddies, aniintermediate ring? shaped wall e is 'provided in' front of the" guide. wheel b and coaxial with the latter. This arrangement of the turbine outside the forebay makes the turbine conveniently accessible. Y

The runner c is fixed on the horizontal shaft 7c, which is mounted at its front end in a bearing Z carried by a spider m integral vwith the inlet funnel a. The vanes of the guide wheel bare mounted on turntable rods or pivots 'n arranged in a plane at right angles to the shaft is. Each rod n is provided with a lever o and by turning the levers 0 the vanes of the guide wheel b can be turned into any position fromthe open to the closed position.

The turbine. illustrated in Fig. 3 diers from that shown in Fig. 1 inasmuch as no ring shaped wall e is provided.

In the constructional example illustrated in Fig. 2 the turbine is located in the lower portion of the forebay i and the entrance funnel a projects into the forebay z'. For the purpose of providing desirable guidance'of the water, intermediate ring shaped walls f, g and 71, are provided in theguide wheel Z, in the runner o and the suction pipe d respectively whereby eddy-losses are very much reduced.

I claim: l. In a hydraulic turbine, an axial Vflo rotor formed to produce high specific speed, means forming a conduit for deliveringfluid to said rotor Vaxially thereof, means for producing V variable whirling motion of water advancing axially through said'conduit, and Y flow decelerating means communicating with the discharge side of said rotor.

2. In a hydraulic turbine, an axial flow rotor formed to produce a specific speed of at least 330, means forming a conduit for delivering iuid to. said rotor axially thereof, means in said conduit for producing variable whirling motion of water advancing axially throughsaid conduit, and a flow decelerator communicating with the discharge side of said rotor. j

3. In a hydraulic turbine, an axial flow rotor formed to produce high specific speed, means forming a purely axial flow conduit communicating with the inlet side of said rotor, means for producing variable whirling motion Tof water vflowing through said conduit, and a flow decelerator communicating with the discharge side of said rotor.

4. In a hydraulic turbine, an axial flow rotor formed to producehigh specic speed,

l meansV forming an axial flow conduit communicatingwith the inlet sideV of said rotor, means located in said conduit for producing variable whirling motion of water flowing through said conduit, and a flow decelerator communicating with the discharge side of said rotor. Y v Y 5. In a hydraulic turbine, an axial flow rotor formed to produce a specific speed of at least 330, means forming a purely axial ow conduit-communicating with the inletv side of said rotor, adjustable means for producing variable whirling motion of water flowing through said conduit, and a flow decelerator communicating with the discharge side 0f said rotor.

6. In a hydraulic turbine, an axial flow rotor formed to produce a specific speed of at least 330, means forming an axial flow con*4 duit communicating with the inlet side of said rotor, adjustable means located in said conduit for producing variable whirling motion of waterV flowing through said conduit, and aflow decelerator communicatingwith the discharge side of said rotor.

7 In a hydraulic turbine, an axial flow rotor formed to produce a specific speedV of at least 330, means forming an axial flow conduit communicating with the inlet side of said rotor, pivotally supported guide vanes for delivering water to said conduitfrom vane edges extending longitudinally of the pivotal axes, and flow decelerating means communicating with the discharge sideof said rotor. l

8. In a hydraulic turbine, a rotor comprising vanes all portions of the inlet edges of Vwhich extend transversely of the rotor axis,

said rotor being formed to produce a specic speed of at least 330, an axial flow guide casing, pivotally supported guide vanes in said casing formed todeliver water axially of said rotor and toward said inlet vane edges, and a draft tube for guiding and decelerating the flow of water discharged from said rotor.

9. In a hydraulic turbine, an axial flow rotor formed to produce a specific speed` of at least 330, means forming a purely axial flow conduit communicating with the inlet side of said rotor, adjustable means for producing whirling motion of water flowing through said conduit, and a flow decelerator communicating with the discharge side of said rotor and having a central axis inclined at an acute angle relatively to the rotor axis whereby abrupt changes in direction of flow are prevented.

l0. In a hydraulic turbine, an axial flow rotor formed to produce a specific speed of atleast 330, means forming an axial flow conduit communicating with the inlet side of said rotor, adjustable means located in said conduit for producing whirling motion of water flowing through said conduit, and a flow decelerator communicating with the discharge side of said rotor and having a central axis inclined at an acute angle relatively to the rotor axis whereby abrupt changes in direction of iow are prevented.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this-speciiication.

REINHARD I-IOFMANN. 

